Hollywood, Florida — Josh Rittenberg of Delray Beach won the $560 buy-in Escalator Series headliner during the early morning hours of Monday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. For coming out on top of a stout, 1,108-entry field, Rittenberg was rewarded with a $98,642 first prize along with a $3,500 seat in next month’s $3,000,000 guaranteed WPT Poker Showdown Championship. The victory came following a heads-up chop that saw Rittenberg’s chip lead secure the win. Runner-up, Edgar Varas, was rewarded with an even $94,000

The Escalator $560 boasted a $400,000 guarantee that was easily bested to the tune of a $554,000 prize pool. In addition to Rittenberg, Josh Beckley (third), Paul Balzano (fourth), Brian Hastings (14th) and Michael Newman (25th) also finished in the money.

The 2018 Escalator Series marked the second of its kind. Beginning February 21st and running through March 18th, the series boasted four events over four consecutive weekends. The opener was a $150 with a $150,000 guarantee followed by a $250 with a $200,000 guarantee, a $350 with a $300,000 guarantee and the closer was the $560 with a $400,000 guarantee.

In all, the series drew more than 5,600 entries competing for better than $1,500,000 in cash and prizes. That turnout accounts for better than a 21 percent increase over 2016’s inaugural series.

Claiming 13,350,000 and 8,800,000 chips respectively, Josh Rittenberg and Edgar Varas agreed to a heads-up deal. Varas negotiated slightly up from the ICM figures, securing himself an even $94,000. Rittenberg, meanwhile, earned the remainder of the cash — $98,642 — along with the $3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Championship seat and, of course, the trophy.

Edgar Varas

A final report will be posted shortly. In the meantime, here’s a look at the final table results:

Paul Balzano open-shoved under the gun for 1,150,000. It was on Josh Rittenberg on the button and he called. Next up was Josh Beckley in the small blind and he called, too. Edgar Varas folded his option and Balzano was at risk versus two players.

Beckley and Rittenberg checked down the [4h 3c 2c 2d] flop and turn. The river fell the [js] and Beckley lead for 950,000. Rittenberg folded and Beckley turned over [ac jc] for a rivered pair of jacks. Balzano’s [kh 5h] was no good and he was eliminated in fourth place.